PSA Flips/Holders - Tracking Changes Over Time

[Bosox Blair]

This has come up tangentially in other threads - the changes over the years are confusing when trying to ensure PSA cards are legit. Is there a thread anywhere on this Board, or a webpage anyone knows of where the changes over the years are discussed and illustrated with scans?

If not, I was thinking of starting on that with this thread. Please reply if you know of something already out there.

Cheers,
Blair

[MVSNYC]

i might be missing one label, but i just did a quick search on the internet to illustrate the evolution of PSA labels...

4- square corners, number listed below grade designation (current)
3- square corners, bolder type face (most of the 2000's)
2- round corners, thinner type face, old "PSA" type face at top, hologram on back (mid 90's-2000-ish)
1- round corners, "typewriter" type face, old "PSA" type face at top, hologram on back (original) (early to mid 90's)

[terjung]

Thanks for posting that.

Can we also show with pictures what the backs look like and with which front? (ie. this front goes with this back)

[Bosox Blair]

Thanks for the posts so far. I have it as a couple more than illustrated above. Plus the hologram changed from the PSA one to a Collector's Universe one. I should be able to organize a detailed post on this tomorrow.

Cheers,
Blair

[Bosox Blair]

OK - in the following several posts I'll try to define the different styles I have found in my collection...and borrowed (for the earliest style). So far I have 7 different styles, but I'm learning too, so I'm happy to hear from other members about any omissions...(I'll edit this post as I add scans and styles):

Style 1

I think this is the oldest style - this was used in the mid-90s I believe. Widely rounded corners on the white of the flip. Typewriter font. Zeros have strokes through them. Fat "PSA" top centre. (I don't have one of these in hand, so I'm not sure about the reverse of the flip, or about the slab markings, if any.) This scan was borrowed from a post by jp1216:

[Bosox Blair]

Style 2

This style was used in the late 1990s. The white corners are still rounded, but not as widely. Type font is changed to the one that has remained ever since (though at times it has been more bold/dark). "PSA" at top center remains fat and same font style. Reverse of the flip - the markings are on the holder, not the reverse of the flip. To the left, the white print is on the holder and can be felt with the finger. To the right, the hologram is PSA on a ball. On the holder itself there is a small raised PSA symbol in the lower right front corner (on this style, it is not on the reverse of the holder, nor is there a reverse numerical character...see later styles):

[Bosox Blair]

Style 3

The white corners are still rounded as with Style 2. Type font is same as Style 2, as is "PSA" at top center. Reverse of the flip - the markings are on the holder, not the reverse of the flip. To the left, the white print is on the holder and can be felt with the finger. To the right, the hologram has now changed and is "Collectors Universe". On the holder itself there is a small raised PSA symbol in the lower right corner on the front and now added is the same raised symbol on the lower right on the reverse of the holder. (There is still no reverse numerical character...see later styles):

[Bosox Blair]

Style 4

The flip is identical to Style 3. The difference is with the slab - there is now an addition. Now, if you look very closely at the left lower front and left lower reverse of the slab, you can see a reversed numerical character which cannot be felt on the outside of the holder. (It appears to be a raised symbol, but raised on the inside of the slab. I doubt I could capture this with a scan.)

[Bosox Blair]

Style 5

This style is the same as Style 4 in all respects except that the PSA on the top center is skinny - almost as though the "bold" was taken off:

[Bosox Blair]

Style 6

Quite significant changes here. White corners on the flip are now square. The type font is now quite bold/black. "PSA" at top center of flip is changed to what I'll call logo-font. Reverse of the flip - the markings are no longer on the holder. They are now on the reverse of the flip itself, in shiny silver print. There is no hologram anymore: